Overview

After self isolating since a March, I felt the need to spread my wings again ,to gain confidence in going out into the new post lockdown world, and to get back behind the wheel of my car. We chose Ernespie for a day out, as we had a toddler with us, but is also wheelchair friendly. Most importantly it has an excellent reputation for home baking in their café ! There is a large roomy farmhouse café, a garden centre, a shop, and plenty of activities and adventure areas for children young and older. My great nephew loved the animals.There is a charge for the activities.Some things like the soft play area were closed because of COVID restrictions. Surfaces are smooth and flat inside main building, but slight slopes in other areas, although surfaces are even. Hand sanitisers are at the main door, and at various locations throughout. You are asked to wear a mask throughout , except when eating and drinking. There is a one way system clearly laid out on the floor, and you wait to be shown to a table by a waitress. The café is large and roomy with plenty of allowance for social distancing. The staff wore face visors ,and we observed them sanitising Tables and chairs between visitors. Payment was contactless.There is also lots of outdoor seating. The cakes were as delicious as we had been told, and an added bonus was that they are part of the ‘eat out to help out scheme’, saving us a few pennies. The only thing that would concern me would be if the shop was busy, social distancing might be more difficult, although it too clearly had a one way system clearly marked out.

Transport & Parking

As the name suggests the venue is out in the countryside, we travelled by car, as only 30 minutes away. Plenty of car parking , with large designated disabled spaces near the door. Path to door even and flat

Access

Main building modern. Some doors to shops and café were automatic. As mentioned most areas were flat, though I noticed there was a slight slope on the path to the farm and activities, which we didn’t visit this time, due to being near closing time. Signage was clear, especially with regards to guidelines re COVID . Floors clearly marked with direction to travel in. Did not observe any alternative format for visitor’s with hearing or visual problems. No seating to stop and rest.

Toilets

Accessible loo, huge, plenty of room, and red cord. Plenty of grab rails, and spotlessly clean. Have marked down 1/2 star because the outside door to access the toilets is very heavy and opens outwards, although a member of staff did offer to assist me. I particularly liked that the baby changing area was separate from the accessible toilet, as it is often the case, that they share the same area .

Staff

All staff were very friendly and helpful, in what must be difficult times for them

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I’d recommend here even for just a coffee, plenty of room to social distance, which is one of the reasons we chose it for my first outing out, as I was very nervous of going out in public post self isolation. Plenty of precautions in place as mentioned. Floor marking, signage advising of precautions , hand sanitising stations, staff wearing face visors, plenty of space between tables, sanitising furniture between customers . Customers wearing face masks ..Ample room to manoeuvre a wheelchair and still maintain social distancing . I felt safe, and would definitely visit again. We didn’t have to book, and no contact details were taken, but not sure on the rules about that in cafés .

Photos